Burma Must Release My Mother—and All Political Prisoners—Before Holding Elections

I was 11 years old when my mother was first put under house arrest. I was with her at that time and remember the soldiers arriving, hauling away the young students, and cutting my mother off from the rest of the world. The following weeks of confinement is one of the few times during my life that I have had Daw Aung San Suu Kyi all to myself. I am 48 years old now and my mother finds herself in a far worse situation following her arrest amid a February 2021 coup d’état—just three months after she won a landslide 82% of the vote in rare free elections in Burma, officially now known as Myanmar. At 80 years of age, she has ongoing health concerns including heart, gum, and bone diseases. Unlike her previous detention, when she was permitted to reside at home and allowed some communication with family, she is now imprisoned in an unknown location. Before, we were even able to share a Christmas together alongside my father and brother. Since her latest incarceration, no family member or friend has been allowed to see her. I have received only one short letter. There is no dignity, and no justice, in a system that buries an elderly woman alive in silence. Such cruelty reveals the true nature of this regime. The crimes with which she has been charged are trumped up and her arrest is a cynical ploy by the junta headed by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to cling onto power. The prisons in Burma are notoriously horrific and where at least two political prisoners die each month, according to rights groups. My mother has been denied access to medical care, the right to speak, and every basic human freedom. I fear she will not live long. I can only hope that my mother may be released and granted access to the care she needs and that I may see her again soon. My appeal is not only personal, but also moral. It is about truth, accountability, and the lives of over 50 million Burmese who cannot speak freely. Nov. 8 marks a decade since my mother was first elected as Burma’s de facto leader in free elections. Now the junta that ousted her seeks to hold sham polls in December to entrench and legitimize their rule. The world must not stay silent. Since seizing power, the Burmese military has waged an unrelenting campaign of terror. Villages have been burned, civilians executed, and children targeted. More than 6,000 people have been killed and 22,000 political prisoners remain caged. The U.N. has described Burma’s plight as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. It is state-sanctioned violence sadly abetted by the international community. In April 2021, Min Aung Hlaing personally agreed at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting to the Five Point Consensus intended to end the bloodshed and open a path toward dialogue. The commitments were clear: a cessation of violence, inclusive dialogue, mediation by a special envoy, humanitarian assistance, and access for that envoy to meet all stakeholders. None of these commitments have been honored. Violence has intensified, humanitarian aid remains blocked, and political prisoners, including my mother, remain behind bars. At last month’s ASEAN summit, leaders reaffirmed the Five Point Consensus as the central framework for addressing Burma’s crisis. They also reiterated that elections under current military control would not be recognized as legitimate. This position, led by Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, reflects the bloc’s growing realization that the junta’s so-called roadmap to democracy is a deception, not a solution. This stance is welcome, but it must now be followed by meaningful enforcement. Words alone will not protect lives or restore peace. ASEAN must not legitimize Min Aung Hlaing or the military junta he commands by allowing them to take part in regional meetings as equals while they wage war on their own people. Nor should ASEAN lend recognition or credibility to the illegal, illegitimate sham poll that the junta now seeks to stage as a disguise for continued tyranny. If ASEAN allows Min Aung Hlaing or his representatives to attend meetings as peers, it will reward defiance and betray its founding principles of peace, justice, and cooperation. Burma’s plight is not just a domestic tragedy but echoes across the globe. Across border regions, criminal networks have flourished under the protection of military-linked militias, which traffic narcotics and run transnational cyber fraud operations. These scam centres staffed by slaves operate with the knowledge and protection of the Burmese military, generating billions of dollars in illicit revenue to fuel its blood-soaked campaign. The FBI reported that global internet crime losses reached $16.6 billion in 2024, much of it tied to Burma. The U.S., U.K., and Japan have been among the hardest hit. These syndicates are part of the same criminal economy that funds military airstrikes and repression. The regime that jails children also profits from drugs, human trafficking, and online scams. When a government relies on fraud and slavery to finance its war, it forfeits all legitimacy. So, what is the answer for Burma? How can its people find peace? Firstly, it is essential to identify that the problem is Burma’s military—an institution founded by my own grandfather, independence hero Aung San, who would have been horrified by the carnage now unfolding. The world’s diplomats must refuse to seat or recognise Min Aung Hlaing or his representatives at any summit or ministerial meeting. Their fake ballot must be called out for what it is: a lie. Those who want to see peace should engage directly with Burma’s legitimate democratic representatives, including the exiled National Unity Government (NUG) and ethnic organisations that have genuine support among the people. The U.N. has recognized the NUG’s Kyaw Moe Tun as Burma’s Permanent Representative. These are the people who speak for Burma. Partners including Japan, India, and the U.S. have the tools to dismantle the financial and cyber networks that sustain the junta. This changes the calculus of the military and makes the region and world a safer place. They can also make clear that the release of political prisoners is essential to any lasting resolution. It is in the world’s interest to see both my mother and Burma free from tyranny. The people of Burma do not ask for sympathy or interference; they ask for integrity.  I will continue to engage with all parties to see that my mother receives the care that she so desperately needs. I will not rest until all political prisoners are free and safe.  For the sake of justice, regional peace, and human dignity. That Burma might be free.